World chess body suspends Russia over activities in occupied-Ukraine

The governing body of world chess has suspended Russia – the dominant force in the game for decades – after ⁠a successful legal challenge by Ukraine.

An international tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in March upheld a complaint by Ukraine that Russia’s chess federation had usurped control of the game in areas of Ukraine captured by Russian forces since 2022.

It ⁠gave Russia 90 days to relinquish control of chess bodies in five regions of Ukraine and stop holding tournaments there.

But on Wednesday, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) – which is headed by Russia’s former Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich – said Russia had not complied with the deadline, and it had therefore decided to “impose the sanction of temporary suspension of [Russia’s] membership … with immediate effect”.

Russian adult players will retain the right to ‌participate in FIDE tournaments under FIDE’s flag, not their own. Only juniors can play under the Russian flag.

In team events, Russians “may be eligible” to take part under a neutral flag but this is subject to further FIDE decisions, the world body said. Russian state news agency TASS quoted Andrei Filatov, head of the Russian Chess Federation, as saying its lawyers were reviewing FIDE’s decision and may challenge it.

The Ukrainian chess federation hailed the decision as a “historic victory”.

Beyond the practical consequences, the ruling is a symbolic blow to a country with a deep and proud chess tradition, where amateurs can be ⁠seen hunched over boards on pavements and in parks at virtually all times of the year.